Portland Police Bureau (Oregon) facts for kids

A police car used by the Portland Police Bureau.

The Portland Police Bureau is the main police department for the city of Portland, Oregon. It helps keep people safe and follows the laws in Portland, which is the largest city in the state of Oregon.

History of Portland's Police Department

The Portland Police Bureau started a long time ago, in 1870. Back then, it was called the Portland Metropolitan Police Force. The city leaders, known as the Portland City Council, created it.

Early Days and First Leaders

The City Council picked Phillip Saunders to be the very first chief of police. He led a small team of six patrolmen and one lieutenant. At that time, only about 9,000 people lived in Portland.

Important Moments in History

• 1874: Officer Charles F. Schoppe was the first police officer to sadly pass away while on duty.
• 1908: A big change happened! The Portland Police Bureau was the first in the entire United States to hire a female police officer. Her name was Lola Baldwin. She became the leader of a new group called the Women's Protective Division.
• 1915: The department changed its name from "Metropolitan Police Force" to the "Bureau of Police."
• 1919: Portland's police department was also the first in the USA to use police radio. This made it much easier for officers to talk to each other and get help quickly.
• 1985: Another important moment for women in policing happened when Penny Harrington became Portland's first woman Chief of Police. She was also the first woman to lead a major police department in the United States.

See Also

• Police officer

Images for kids

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  Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle

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  Mounted police of Portland